Blog: Physical Therapy & Chiropractic

Role of Physical Therapy in the Female Athlete Triad

The Female Athlete Triad is a group of interrelated conditions that affect female athletes, particularly teenage athletes. It is widely believed that an energy imbalance is the cause, combined with competitive forces. This disrupts eating patterns and body image for female athletes. Despite the fact that this is common in athletes, several aspects of the triad are seen in non-athletes as well.

The three medical conditions associated with the triad are:

Disordered eating: anorexia, purging, induced vomiting
Amenorrhea: adverse impact on menstrual cycles
Osteoporosis: low bone mass/density
Causes

There are times when the athlete exercises excessively while the body is experiencing an energy deficit. A reduced caloric intake combined with malnutrition leads to a pattern of disordered eating.

The pressure to ‘be thin’ is compounded by a society that idolizes celebrities and pop stars. This can result in compulsive dieting and exercise. For a growing teenage athlete, bone density can compromised if there are deficiencies in protein, vitamins and calcium. For female athletes participating in figure skating, ballet and gymnastics in particular, awareness is critical.

Symptoms

Coaches, parents and guardians should be aware of the following warning signs:

Rapid weight loss or marked leanness
Obsession about weight, body image and food.
Shin splints that don’t heal
Reduced participation or loss of interest in sports
Exercise and Nutrition - A Healthy Foundation for Every Individual
Treatment involves:

Prevention of compulsive dieting by working with a sports nutritionist.
Increasing the strength of muscles, ligaments, bones and joints must be increased with a progressive exercise program designed by a physical therapist.

Physical therapy for athletes begins with a detailed evaluation of the flexibility, strength, range of motion and athletic goals.

The physical therapist is a critical member of the healthcare team and works closely with a coach and athletic trainer. The physical therapist may use a combination of the following treatments:

Ultrasound to heal connective tissue (tendons and ligaments).
Manipulative therapy that includes stretching and massage.
Resistance training to increase muscle strength.
Cold compress for acute injuries and heat to relax muscular spasms.
Low-level laser use for muscle and connective tissue injuries.
Functional Electrical Stimulation to restore strength in the muscles.
The use of tape to support muscles and assistive devices as needed to support joints.
Massage From Your Physical Therapist

Success Starts with the Right Attitude
Physical therapy can keep young athletes healthy, strong and safe, but success begins with the right attitude towards the inner and outer self. Every physical active female should take three simple precautions to protect against the triad:

Eat healthy meals at regular intervals. Use nutritional supplementation if necessary.

Discuss menstrual irregularities (or sudden fluctuations in body weight) with your physician.

Track exercise and calorie expenditure.

An environment that makes the female athlete feel safe and comfortable encourages honest conversations that help identify underlying problems. If you suspect that someone in your family has some of the symptoms associated with the triad, seek medical attention immediately. Physical therapy is an important part of long-term treatment of this condition. In fact, physical therapy can help most individuals to live a healthy, improved quality of life. Call us today to schedule an appointment. Your success is our success.

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Falling is a common problem amongst the elderly, and it can result in serious injury. It is estimated that one in every three adults aged 65 and older suffer from a fall every year. Fall related injuries range from hip fractures to head trauma. After a fall, patients experience a significant loss of confidence and a fear of falling when walking unaided. Recovery from a fall involves physical as well as psychological elements. It is important for the patient to seek physical therapy for treatment and fall prevention.

Why do elderly patients fall?

Visual problems, muscle weakness and low blood pressure can cause a loss of balance, which leads to a fall. Other reasons include conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and other conditions that affect the nerves.

Occasionally, middle ear problems (vestibular problems) can occur and balance can be affected. The good news is, falls can be largely prevented with the right precautions.

Can Your Body Act as Resistance?
A physical therapist is trained to help individuals improve balance between muscle groups and increase joint stability. The physical therapist will begin with a detailed neuromuscular assessment to identify muscle imbalances and integrity of the nervous system.

The physical therapist will conduct different tests to determine your sense of balance as you sit, stand and walk. The speed and the stability with which you walk are also evaluated. This becomes the foundation for a balance program, in which you can use your own bodyweight as a source of resistance.

Balance exercises such as single-leg standing under the supervision of a physical therapist are beneficial. Different activities to improve balance while walking and changing positions and direction train the body to prevent falls. The objective is to be able to handle different tasks at the same time while staying in an upright position.

Multiple Benefits of Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is an important aspect of fall treatment and prevention. For starters, a physical therapist will assess your footwear and the safety of your home to eliminate factors that could result in an inadvertent fall.

Your therapist will use several techniques including core stabilization exercises and manual therapy to improve balance and stability. Your bodyweight is an excellent source of resistance for your muscles. The therapist will challenge your sense of balance in a controlled environment by shifting your center of gravity. This activates important muscle groups in the neck, trunk, abdomen and hip muscles.

As the body adapts to these exercises over a period of time, the risk for falls reduces. The therapist will also provide you with a simple exercise program that you can do at home, without the need for any equipment or devices.

Physical Therapy for the Spine

The spinal column supports the body and provides the structural framework for muscles and bones in the trunk region. It is a bony framework that protects the spinal cord, which serves as a channel of communication between the brain and the rest of the body. It serves as an anchor for a network of muscles that surround the trunk and help in movement and stability of the trunk region.

Every time we pull, push, twist, bend and stretch the spine or lift a heavy object, we challenge the muscles surrounding the spinal column. Controlled exercise, under the supervision of a physical therapist, challenges these muscles and helps improve posture and ‘core strength’.

The strength and stability of these muscles is critical to the functioning of vital organs in the trunk region, including the stomach (digestion), lungs (breathing) and liver (detoxification).

Response to Injury
We live in an age in which technology allows individuals to achieve more, while becoming increasingly sedentary. Lack of exercise and poor strength in the abdominal and lower back muscles can lead to a chain reaction of problems over a period of time.

Initial symptoms include aches and pains after long periods of sitting. Poor posture and wrong movement patterns can lead to pain and stiffness in the upper and lower back. A vicious cycle of weakness and pain can increase the possibility of injuries like herniated discs. There are times when individuals experience sharp pain when bending forward, twisting, laughing and sneezing.

When an injury occurs, the first thing to avoid is further motion, since this can increase the severity of the injury. Symptoms such as tingling, numbness and muscle weakness may indicate involvement of the nerves, and medical advice should be sought immediately. The traditional approach of rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE) is important during the early stage of injury. A physician may request additional tests to identify the extent of injury, and may recommend prescription medication to reduce pain and inflammation.

An Evaluation is the First Step
An initial assessment by the physical therapist will help identify the cause and extent of injury. Combined with diagnostic testing and medication (as advised by a physician), physical therapy can help with pain relief and increase in range of motion in the acute stage.

As the patient improves, the therapist may decide to use ultrasound wave treatment and mild electric stimulation. As the pain reduces, the therapist prescribes a progressive, supervised exercise program. The entire plan of care promotes healing, reduces pain and improves function.

There are several things that physical therapy can do for you. Decreased pain, improved strength and mobility and a higher quality of life are just a few examples of the benefits of physical therapy. The strength and stability of your spinal muscles is one of the most important aspects of your well being, and we encourage you to schedule an appointment with us. You might be surprised with the things you discover after an initial evaluation.

We appreciate the opportunity to serve you, and we look forward to working with you.

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(888) 595-7282

Physical therapy for Foot Drop

Foot drop syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by weak muscles in the front of the lower leg. This can result in partial or total loss of control over the foot. This affects the ability to lift the foot at the ankle.

Damage to the nerve fibers that allow the flexing of the ankle and toes can cause several problems. For example, the toes point towards the floor when the foot is lifted up from the ground. When patients attempt to walk, they tend to drag the foot along the ground. They further compensate by lifting the knee higher than usual.

Foot drop can often be the sign of a major underlying complication, rather than a ‘simple’ inability to raise the foot. It can be caused by a nerve injury, spinal or brain disorder or muscle disorder. Foot drop can affect one foot or both feet and can be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause.

Physical therapy plays an important role in the management of foot drop. It allows patients to experience better mobility, which leads to an improved quality of life.

Exercise Goes a Long Way…
Exercise Therapy

Exercise is the primary treatment for patients with foot drop. Strengthening exercises of the muscles within the foot and the lower limbs help maintain muscle tone. Such exercises will help strengthen and stretch the foot while returning mobility to the ankle.

Stretching exercises are an excellent treatment for foot drop. Physical therapists will advise patients to sit on the floor, place a towel around the foot, hold onto both ends and gently pull the towel towards them. This helps stretch the muscles of the calf and foot.

Other exercises include leg flexes and toe curls. Several sets and repetitions are required to stimulate the muscles sufficiently.

Electrical Stimulation

In some patients with foot drop, physical therapists may advise a treatment regime that includes electrical stimulations of the nerves and muscle fibers. This helps generate electrical impulses within the muscles and can, to an extent, help increase the tone and the contractility.

Gait Training

Gait signifies the way a person walks. A gait abnormality is a deviation from normal walking.

Gait training is recommended for those patients with significant gait problems. This treatment helps a patient walk more efficiently and improve stability by incorporating different strength and balance exercises.

At times, gait training requires the use of walkers, canes and parallel bars to safeguard the patient.

A gait belt is an assistive device used to help a patient maintain balance during training.

Braces and Splints

For individuals with limited control over their foot muscles, an “Ankle-Foot-Orthosis (AFO)” is used to help improve gait. AFO are L-shaped braces designed to support the function of the ankle and foot by keeping them perpendicular (at an angle of 90 degrees). This helps to keep the foot off of the ground while walking.

The Road to Recovery
Foot drop can be rather debilitating for patients and can affect mobility to a great degree. While there are several causes of foot drop, physical therapy is the most effective treatment option.

Long-term outcomes vary but many patients can regain significant function and mobility following a physical therapy plan of care.

As your trusted healthcare professionals with several years of experience treating muscular and neurological conditions, we promise to take good care of you. Together, we will walk the road to recovery.

Don’t hesitate, reach out to us today and give us the opportunity to show you how physical therapy can change your life.

Forest Hills Rehabilitation
(888) 595-7282

http://www.ForestHillsRehab.com

A Colles’ fracture refers to a fracture around the wrist. Typically, it occurs due to a fall on an outstretched hand. Specifically, the fracture occurs at the end of a bone in the forearm called the radius (at the cortico-cancellous junction). Dorsal displacement and dorsal angulation are common characteristics of such a fracture. Falling on an outstretched hand can be a consequence of either tripping or losing balance, and it is the body’s defense mechanism against falling flat on one’s face. While this sort of fracture is not prevalent in younger patients, it is commonly seen in older patients, patients with osteoporosis, and those with any other form of bone disease.

The treatment of Colles’ fracture requires the application of a cast to facilitate compression and prevent motion in an effort to promote healing. In some cases, surgical correction may be required. Once pain and swelling is reduced, the objective of the healthcare team changes. The new priority is joint range of motion and restoration of muscle strength. This is where physical therapy plays an important role.

How Physical Therapy Can Help
Physical therapy can help in the recovery of wrist fractures in several ways:

1. RICE

The use of Rest, Ice packs application, Compression and Elevation (RICE) is universally applicable after injuries to reduce the extent of injury and facilitate healing.

2. Therapeutic exercises

Muscles tend to lose tone, strength, and mass due to a period of inactivity. Stretching and range of motion exercises can minimize the phenomenon of ‘muscle atrophy’.

3. Massage therapy and Mobilizations

Manual therapy from a skilled physical therapy on the joint or on the surgical scar site is very helpful. This helps reduce pain, decrease swelling and improve blood flow to the area to improve healing.

4. Electrical stimulation

Used to improve muscle tone and strength, it can involve application of a tiny electric current on muscle fibers to stimulate muscle contraction.

5. Balance therapy

If a Colles’ fracture has occurred in an elderly patient due to loss of balance, then treatment is aimed at improving core strength and balance. At times, aids like a walking stick or Zimmer frame may also be provided.

Given the importance of the wrist in daily activities, the objective of physical therapy is to help regain full motion of the affected wrist. However, physical therapy can also help reduce swelling, controlling pain, improving strength, improving balance and regaining independence, especially in older patients. Physical therapy helps the healing process. Recovery from Colles’ fractures can be hampered by unnecessary and extreme motion after removal of the cast. This can be minimized or avoided under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

The Care You Need
Physical therapy is important in the full recovery of wrist motion and strength after an injury.

Expect the therapist to start with gentle mobilizations of the wrist and hand to improve joint circulation and encourage motion. As the pain subsides, the therapist will encourage (and supervise) gentle exercises to regain full function.

Your physical therapist will provide the care you need, when you need it. If you are hurt and in pain, there is a good chance that physical therapy can help you. Reach out to us today, and discovery why individuals across the community are experiencing the benefits of what physical therapy can do for you.

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Rapid Recovery from Hamstring Injuries
The hamstring muscles, located at the back of the thigh, are comprised of three muscle groups. Injuries to this muscle are common in athletes participating in sports such as football or basketball. They are also common in ‘weekend warriors’ and individuals who participate in walking, jogging or running without a period of adequate warm up and stretching.
This muscle group allows your knee to bend, and plays a critical role in every activity involving the lower body. Your hamstrings are contracting every single time you take a step, climb a flight of stairs or get in and out of your car.

The anatomy of this muscle group
The three muscle groups that comprise the hamstrings include the biceps femoris, semi-membranosus and semi-tendinosus. A partial or complete tear of either of these muscles is a likely possibility in hamstring injuries.
Cause of hamstring muscle injury
A sudden, excessive stress on this muscle group is a common cause of injury. An individual with a previous history of hamstring injuries is more likely to get re-injured. Hamstring muscle tightness and inadequate warm-up can also cause injuries.

The Role of the Physical Therapist
The role of the physical therapist is extremely important in managing patients with hamstring injuries. Prior to treatment, the therapist will obtain a detailed history and perform a clinical examination to ascertain the degree of injury and the muscle groups involved. This will help create a foundation for a safe and effective treatment program.
If the injury was sustained recently, the therapist will recommend rest, since the primary goal is to avoid an increase in pain and excessive strain on sensitive muscles and ligaments. You may be asked to avoid exercise and in some cases, avoid walking. You may be asked to use crutches for support.
In an effort to deal with the pain associated with such injuries, the therapist may recommend an ice pack and a compression bandage to reduce swelling.

Physical therapists will prescribe and supervise a structured exercise program once the acute injury phase (and the associated pain and swelling) has subsided. These can include –
1. Muscle strength exercises - including static and dynamic strength exercises to help regain strength as quickly as possible.
2. Range of motion - including active and passive range of motion exercises that can be partial, or complete range of motion. This helps maintain mobility and minimize muscle tightness.
3. Provision of support devices - The use of assistive devices like crutches, walkers or canes to walk short distances is helpful for patients during the recovery phase. The physical therapist will help analyze the need for such a device, identify the right device (if needed) and assist in acquiring such a device.

Restoration of Control

In addition to the restoration of strength and mobility, an important objective of physical therapy is the restoration of muscle control and balance following hamstring injuries.
When the hamstrings are injured, the strength ratio between the quadriceps (muscles at the front of the thigh) and the hamstrings is also impacted. Weakness or tightness in the hamstrings (as a result of an injury) can also put you at an increased risk of injury to the ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, which is a ligament that facilitates with knee stability.
Exercises involving balance, weight bearing and unexpected shifts in direction can improve strength and stability in the hamstring muscles. For an athlete recovering from hamstring injuries, a physical therapist will work on motor control and help train sport-specific movements.
Whether you are a weekend warrior or an athlete suffering from a hamstring injury, physical therapy can help. In fact, the scope of physical therapy extends far beyond hamstring injuries and includes pain relief and restoration of function for any muscle injury in the body.
Give us a call, and we’ll help you regain control of your muscles as quickly as possible.

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Our Location: 108-14 72nd Avenue, 4th Flr., Forest Hills NY - (between Queens Blvd. & Austin St.)